Online Resources

Use our free online resources for consumer research, online classes, language learning, newspaper reading and more.

Displaying 1 - 12 of 18
  • Watch

    Access Video on Demand

    Access Video on Demand is a streaming video platform with a focus on educational films. The collection includes 41,213 videos, 331,668 video segments and 1,094 subject categories. The topics range from Arts and Humanities, Business and Economics, Science, Mathematics and Technology, Social Sciences, Careers and Trades, Health and Wellness, Home and Family, and Archival films and newsreels. Many popular documentaries originally produced for National Geographic, HBO, PBS, BBC, TED Talks, Nova, Rick Steves’ Europe, Scientific American, and more are included. Closed-captioning and interactive transcripts are available on many titles. Customers need a valid OPL card in order to access the service. Engage, inform, and entertain with its vivid and appealing new design of Access Video On Demand! Includes unlimited, simultaneous usage; in-library use and remote access.

    Content Language
    English
  • Research

    Ancestry Library

    A collection of thousands of individual genealogy databases from many different institutions. It includes American, Canadian and U.K. sources as well as some for Australia, New Zealand and Europe. Canadian coverage includes major sources such as the censuses from 1851 to 1916, Ontario civil registration of births, marriages and deaths, and the Quebec Drouin Collection (courthouse copies of parish registers). German records include passenger lists for many people leaving Eastern Europe. New databases are constantly being added.  Many of the sources are digitized.  Bring a USB flash drive to download your records.

    Important Notice: You can access Ancestry Library Edition in our library branches through desktop computers provided by our library or your own personal laptop, tablet, or mobile phone. (Remote access is not supported.) 

    Content Language
    English
  • Learn

    AtoZ World Food

    Learn more about food in history and culture while discovering thousands of traditional recipes from 174 countries.

    AtoZ World Food features:

    • 6,500 + Recipes
    • 750 + World Beer Reviews
    • 13,000 + High Quality photos
    • 500 + Ingredient Articles
    • 850 + Future Culture Articles
    • 6 Food Glossaries
    • Personal Recipe Book

     

    Content Language
    English
  • Listen

    Audiobook Cloud

    A large assortment of streaming audiobooks that are always available. Includes fiction and nonfiction material for both adults and children.

    Content Language
    English
  • Research

    FamilySearch Affiliate Library

    FamilySearch is the largest genealogy organization in the world sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Millions of people use FamilySearch records, resources, and services to learn more about their family history.

    Ottawa Public Library is now a FamilySearch Affiliate Library, this designation means library clients will now have greater and more convenient access to the wealth of genealogical resources available through FamilySearch at our 33 branches.

    Benefits of an Affiliate Library

    • Due to contractual obligations, some images are only viewable online through FamilySearch centers and Affiliate Libraries
    • Through the affiliate program, OPL customers have access to over 350 million additional records that are otherwise restricted

    This resource is available for in-library use only.

    Please note that each individual client must log into FamilySearch using their own unique username and password. There is no institutional login. 

     

    Beginning April 30, 2026, clients will be required to sign in to access the FamilySearch Catalog. To help prepare for this change, a notification banner has been added to the top of the FamilySearch Catalog landing page for clients who are not signed in.

    This update is being implemented as part of ongoing efforts to improve website security and ensure appropriate access to records.

  • Read

    Flipster eMagazines

    Access today's edition of popular magazine titles including Maclean's, Scientific American, Time, People, and others.

    • If you are experiencing difficulty accessing magazines, please check "Tips on how to access magazines from Flipster" under our Help Guide
    • Starting from May 18, 2023, Forbes is available on the Flipster eMagazine Platform
    • Starting from Oct.1, 2022, seven new eMagazines will be added to the Flipster platform. They are Backcountry; Sports Illustrated, Travel & Leisure; Fine Woodworking; Fine Gardening, Threads & Fine Homebuilding.
    • Effective on Nov.1, 2022, the following three magazines : Azure ; Canadian House and Home, and Hello! Canada will be available on Overdrive Magazines Platform and no longer available on Flipster eMagazine Platform
    • Martha Stewart Living, Do It Yourself, and Rachael Ray in Seasons are discontinued on Flipster by the publisher.  However, some back issues are still available for you to view.
    • Effective on Nov.1, 2023, Black Girl Magazine and  Teen Black Girl Magazine are no longer available on Flipster eMagazine Platform.  However, some back issues are still available for you to view.
    • Beginning in July 2025, no new issues of Allrecipes magazine will be published, However, you will still have full access to all back issues.
  • Listen

    Naxos Music Library

    Offers streaming access to over 1 million tracks of classical music. Can be accessed from any computer, anywhere, anytime with your library card. Also features an app that can be used on iPhones, iPads and Android devices.

    This product is limited to 20 simultaneous users. If you have trouble logging on you may wish to try again later.

    In order to properly end a session and free up a user count, please click on the Log-Out button.

     

    • Mobile App activation code is : OttawaPLpd12WDP  1. Download App 2. Select "Connect with your institution. 3. Type in the above activation code, 4. Click "SUBMIT" 5. Create account. 6. Check your email to activate Naxos Music Library personal playlist account.
    •  
    • Your access to the mobile app will be temporarily deactivated if you haven't logged into the web version of the service via our library's authentication system for six months. You can re-activate your account in the following steps:
    • Log in to Naxos Music Library through our website using your library card and PIN
    • Navigate to the Playlists section of the website
    • Login to your Member Account to re-activate your account
    •  
    •  
    • Naxos Music Library has been upgraded from Standard Sound Quality (128kbps) to Premium Sound Quality (320 kbps) The default setting is Premium Sound Quality, but you can unselect the premium and convert to standard.  

     

  • Listen

    Naxos Music Library Jazz

    This includes a mix of jazz legends and contemporary jazz and can be accessed from any computer, anywhere, anytime. You can also listen to this resource through the Naxos Music Library app for iPhones, iPads and Android devices. Please note that Naxos Music Library Jazz is limited to 20 concurrent users.

    In order to properly end a session and free up a user count, please click on the Log-Out button.

    This product is limited to 20 simultaneous users. If you have trouble logging on you may wish to try again later.

    Mobile App activation code is: OttawaPLjazPD11MZD,

    1. Download App. 2. Select "Connect with your institution. 3. Type in the above activation code., 4. Click "SUBMIT" 5. Create account. 6. Check your email to activate Naxos Music Library Jazz personal playlist account.., 

     

    Your access to the mobile app will be temporarily deactivated if you haven't logged into the web version of the service via our library's authentication system for six months. You can re-activate your account in the following steps: 

    • Log in to Naxos Music Library Jazz  through our website using your library card and PIN
    • Navigate to the Playlists section of the website
    • Login to your Member Account to re-activate your account

     

    Naxos Music Library Jazz has been upgraded from Standard Sound Quality (128kbps) to Premium Sound Quality (320 kbps) The default setting is Premium Sound Quality, but you can unselect the premium and convert to standard.

    Content Language
    Bilingual
  • Listen

    Naxos Music Library World

    Naxos Music Library World offers a wide range of music, from legendary historical musical performances to contemporary world music. Recordings of over 32,000 artists are represented, over 1.500 cultural groups represented, and music from over 150 countries. Enjoy the complete Smithsonian Folkways catalogue as well as many other renonwed labels.

    This product is limited to 5 simultaneous users. If you have trouble logging on you may wish to try again later.

    In order to properly end a session and free up a user count, please click on the Log-Out button. 

    Mobile App activation code is: OttawaPLnmlwPD7XIM, 1. Download App 2. Select "Connect with your institution. 3. Type in the above activation code., 4. Click "SUBMIT" 5. Create account. 6. Check your email to activate Naxos Music Library World personal playlist account.

     

    Your access to the mobile app will be temporarily deactivated if you haven't logged into the web version of the service via our library's authentication system for six months. You can re-activate your account in the following steps: 

    • Log in to Naxos Music Library World through our website using your library card and PIN
    • Navigate to the Playlists section of the website
    • Login to your Member Account to re-activate your account

    Naxos Music Library World has been upgraded from Standard Sound Quality (128kbps) to Premium Sound Quality (320 kbps) The default setting is Premium Sound Quality, but you can unselect the premium and convert to standard.

    Content Language
    English
    French
  • Learn

    Naxos MusicBox

    Naxos MusicBox is a brand new carefully produced and beautifully presented music resource for children.

    Naxos MusicBox is an educational tool. It offers friendly, informative written texts, colourful and clear design, and tailored playlists of over 4,000 audio tracks. Selections are presented in logical and engaging ways with lessons and examples. This is not merely a streaming platform; it is intended to enhance the music education of children aged 4–12.

    The website is based predominantly on classical music and there are numerous interactive activities included (e.g. multiple-choice listening questions that children can answer online). There are also specific activities for teachers to work through in a classroom. The site will be continually updated and expanded.

    Unlimited simultaneous access is available. Instead of using your own library card and PIN to log in, please use the user name and PIN provided below to login to Naxos Musicbox.

    • Teacher or Parents access : Username: OttawaPLnmbTR , Password:  Oplmusicbox2024!, Teachers or Parents can access everything on the site, including a section of ‘With a teacher’ class activities and accompanying PDF resources, giving clear guidance on what to do.
    • Student access :, Username: OttawaPLnmbST , Password: Oplmb2024st!, Students can access everything on screen, but no PDFs – so no resources or information sheets.
    Content Language
    English
  • Listen

    Naxos Spoken Word Library

    Listen to the world's literature! Access the complete catalogue of critically acclaimed Naxos audiobooks, with transcriptions available for English language learning. Categories for Children's Classics, Classic Fiction, and Shakespeare's plays. New titles are added monthly. 

    This product is limited to 5 simultaneous users. If you have trouble logging on you may wish to try again later.

    In order to properly end a session and free up a user count, please click on the red Log-Out button. 

    Mobile App activation code is: OttawaPLSWpd05MWF, 1. Download App 2. Select "Connect with your institution. 3. Type in the above activation code., 4. Click "SUBMIT" 5. Create account. 6. Check your email to activate Naxos Spoken Word Library personal playlist account.

    Your access to the mobile app will be temporarily deactivated if you haven't logged into the web version of the service via our library's authentication system for six months. You can re-activate your account in the following steps: 

    1. Log in to Naxos Spoken Word Library through our website using your library card and PIN
    2. Navigate to the “Create Student/Member Account” section of the website
    3. Login with your Email address & Password to re-activate your account
    Content Language
    English
    French